Watching Over You

Watching Over You

Minerva McGonagall had protested to headmaster Albus Dumbledore that little Harry Potter simply could not live with these cold-hearted Muggles. Harry Potter should not grow up as a Muggle and should not be forced to play with the spoilt little Dursley boy. She scowled to herself as she remembered Dumbledore explaining that it was the best place for Harry, that the Dursleys were his only family. She knew that it was probably for the best, but it didn't make her any happier about it.

She had determined, even before she left Privet Drive that Halloween, to check up on Harry. If those horrible Muggles were mistreating him, she'd...well, she wasn't sure what she would do without breaking wizarding law, but she'd think of something.

Minerva spent most of the week following the night of Voldemort's downfall ignoring Albus. He gave her some strange looks, but seemed to sense that she was angry with him. Many students were coming up to her after classes and in the corridors, asking if the rumours were true. She took her time talking to them. It gave her less free time to be around the headmaster.

However, talking so much to the students about the boy-who-lived only made her worry more about the boy in question. He had had such a horrible scar on his forehead. Minerva wondered if it had healed yet, if he could remember what had happened and if the poor child was having nightmares.

She jumped when the bell rang, signalling the end of the last lesson of the day. Mentally scolding herself for getting lost in her thoughts, she told her third year class to put away their books and quills, and that class was dismissed. When the last student finally left (but not before asking about the Longbottom rumours), she transformed into her cat form. It would be easier to sneak out of the castle in her small cat form. Most of the students would be heading for dinner right now, too.

Leaving the castle was easy and, as soon as she reached the outskirts of Hogsmeade, she transformed back into her human form, only to disapparate immediately. She arrived in the alleyway between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk. It was still bright, but quiet. She transformed into her cat form again, in case a Muggle saw her in her robes. She then walked to Privet Drive.

Several cats peered out from under parked cars as she walked past. They clearly knew that this wasn't a real cat. Minerva ignored them. She reached number 4 Privet Drive quite quickly and leapt up onto the windowsill, where a window was open. Her chest tightened at the sound of a baby crying. Harry, she thought.

She peered through the living room blinds. There were two children on the living room floor. They were instantly recognisable. The chubby one was Dudley Dursley, whilst the small one was Harry Potter. Minerva noticed with disgust that Harry seemed thinner and paler than he used to be. His clothes were old, dirty and too big for him.

Harry was crying and reaching for a toy that Dudley was holding. Dudley, being taller, was holding it out of Harry's reach. Harry cried harder.

Petunia Dursley was dusting around the living room while her husband, Vernon, read the day's newspaper. He rustled it irritatedly as if Harry's crying was annoying him. Harry, indeed, began to cry even louder.

"Mu...mu..." cried Harry.

"WILL YOU SHUT THAT BRAT UP???" Vernon Dursley finally lost his temper and threw down his newspaper. His face was going purple. Petunia rushed over to Harry.

"All he does is cry. Dudley never gives us any trouble!" Petunia grabbed Harry by the arm and gave him several loud, hard smacks on his bottom. Minerva's eyes narrowed and she felt her temper rising. How DARE they hit a one-year-old child? The sweetest child...

Harry cried even louder. "LEAVE.DIDDY.ALONE!" shouted Petunia, in between smacks.

McGonagall had had enough. In her cat form, she jumped through the open window and landed on the living room carpet. She arched her back and hissed at Petunia Dursley. Petunia screamed and grabbed Dudley, dragging him away.

"Get rid of it, Vernon! Before it hurts Dudley!"

Dudley was crying and cowering behind his mother, while Vernon Dursley approached Minerva, made 'shoo-ing' noises and waved his arms frantically. Minerva hissed some more and made as if to scratch him. Petunia screamed some more.

"It's wild, Vernon! Keep it away! Oh, my poor Diddy!" Dudley was really screaming now. McGonagall longed to transform but knew she could not. This way, they simply thought she was a real cat.

It was a comical scene. Petunia and Dudley cowering in the corner of the living room, while Vernon tried in vain to capture the 'wild' cat, which hissed and spat at him as it jumped over all the furniture. Minerva made a point of digging her claws into the furniture and leaving holes, which made Petunia wail even more. In fact, the only person not distressed was Harry. He still sat on the living room floor, but was no longer crying. He was laughing and pointing in glee.

"Ca...ca...cat," he cried, clapping his hands together.

The doorbell suddenly interrupted the chaos inside. Everyone, including Minerva jumped in fright.

"Get the door!" Vernon hissed at his wife. "I'll get this blasted cat!"

Petunia lifted Dudley into her arms and hurried out of the room to answer the front door. While still dodging Vernon's arms, Minerva was curious as to who it could be. She heard Petunia open the door, the sound of voices, then footsteps in the hall. Petunia came back into the living room, still holding Dudley in her arms. She looked absolutely furious. She stood back to let the visitor enter. If Minerva had been in her human form, her mouth would have fallen in shock. The visitor was none other than Albus Dumbledore.

It was Dumbledore as she had never seen him before. Gone were his usual wizard robes, which had been replaced by Muggle clothing. Dumbledore was now wearing an old green jumper and faded grey trousers, one leg of which had a hole at the knee. He had a pipe in his mouth. His hands were in his trouser pockets and his posture was relaxed, but one look at his eyes told Minerva he was not happy. Not happy at all.

She stopped hissing and clawing the instant he walked into the room. Now she sat absolutely still and watched him as he extended a hand to Mr Dursley.

"You must be Vernon Dursley! My cousin, Arabella, told me all about you and your family. I'm Andrew Douglas, I'm visiting her for a few days."

Vernon Dursley did not take the proffered hand. Instead he looked at 'Andrew' with an expression of great dislike. Petunia and Dudley were pressed up against the wall, trying to get away from the stranger. Minerva thought Dumbledore looked a bit like a Muggle hippy with his old clothes and long beard.

"Ah, yes," said Dumbledore, dropping his hand and turning to face Minerva. His eyes were not twinkling as usual. His face looked very stern.

"I must apologise for my cat's behaviour," Dumbledore continued, while continuing to look at Minerva. "She's normally very well-behaved."

Minerva felt very uncomfortable. Dumbledore was angry with her. She knew she ought not to have interfered, but she felt she had done nothing wrong. She had been worried.

"Well behaved??" shrieked Petunia Dursley. "That cat is wild! It ought to be put down!"

"I will deal with her, I assure you," said Dumbledore, smiling at Mrs Dursley. He held out his arms. "Come here, Tabby."

Minerva obediently jumped into his arms and he held her very tightly, as if warning her to behave.

"Once again, I must apologise..." he broke off and looked down. Harry had toddled over to him and was now tugging on his trousers.

"Dummy!" cried Harry, looking up at Dumbledore, who chuckled.

"Is this your nephew? Arabella told me about him. Such a terrible tragedy..."

"Yes, yes. He's my nephew," snapped Petunia, grabbing Harry's arm and pulling him away from Dumbledore. She shoved a dummy in Harry's mouth.

"Well, my apologies again. Goodbye, Mr Dursley, Mrs Dursley. Goodbye Dudley, Goodbye Harry."

Harry pulled his dummy out of his mouth. "'Bye Dummy!" he called, waving his other little arm.

Dumbledore saw himself out of number 4 and walked down Privet Drive, still with McGonagall in his arms. Only when they were back in the alleyway between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk, did he put her down. She transformed back into her human form immediately. Dumbledore looked down at her, and waited for an explanation.

"How did you know I was here?" she asked quietly.

"Arabella informed me."

"But how did she know?" asked Minerva, looking up Dumbledore in surprise.

"She lives here. She moved to this area just a few days ago. One of her many cats informed her you were here."

"Arabella lives here?" McGonagall cried, incredulously.

Dumbledore put both hands on Minerva's shoulders and looked into her eyes.

"My dear Minerva, did you really think I would leave Harry with these Muggles and simply forget about him?"

Minerva felt her cheeks flushing. She looked at her feet. How could she have doubted Albus? She felt ashamed of herself.

"Arabella is just one of several people who will be watching Harry while he lives here," Dumbledore continued. "We must remember that, while Voldemort has left us, he has many followers still at large. We must keep Harry safe."

"But these Muggles hate him, Albus!" Minerva burst out, raising her head to look at him once more. Hot tears were threatening to spill from her eyes. "Why can't you let him live somewhere else?"

"Because it's..."

"...The best place for him," Minerva finished, sarcastically.

Dumbledore sighed. He took off his half-moon spectacles and rubbed his eyes. He looked tired and old. Minerva was finding it increasingly hard to remain angry with him. She struggled not to hug the headmaster and tell him that she was really, really sorry.

Dumbledore spoke again. "It really is the best place for him, Minerva. I'm not entirely sure why, but I have my suspicions. I cannot be sure just yet if my suspicions are correct. Just trust me, Minerva. Please?"

He took both her hands and squeezed them, looking into her eyes with a pleading look. She felt herself relent.

"Yes, Albus. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..."

"It's alright," he said, squeezing her hands again. "I worry about him too. It's late, Minerva. We must return to the school. Some cocoa, then off to bed?"

"Yes, Albus. That would be nice," McGonagall replied. With a loud crack, they both disapparated.